Ideas Exchange Vancouver

Welcome to this fascinating global debate… held simultaneously!
Join participants from cities the world over… don’t miss out!
https://ideas-exchange.info/en/online-debate/empire-strikes/
You can book your space in a few easy steps.
Coups, interventions, sanctions, wars, trade agreements, intelligence agencies, multinational corporations, Hollywood, military bases, “democracy promotion.”
For many around the world—especially in Latin America—the United States is not just another country, but a system of power: visible, influential, and often resented.
But here’s the uncomfortable question: is the story really as simple as villain and victims?
Is the U.S. an imperial aggressor imposing its will on weaker nations—or the most visible actor in a global system driven by security concerns, economic incentives, and geopolitical competition? And how much responsibility lies outside Washington: in local elites, internal institutions, historical constraints, and global market dynamics?
This discussion invites participants to move beyond slogans and moral shortcuts and instead examine how power actually works in the real world.
We’ll explore the logic behind U.S. foreign policy, the costs and consequences of intervention, the role of soft power and culture, and the uncomfortable gray zones where responsibility is shared rather than assigned.
We’ll gather online—with coffee or whatever keeps you sharp—to think together, challenge assumptions, and ask better questions. Expect disagreement, nuance, and a space designed for curiosity rather than certainty.
Some of the questions we’ll explore:

• What does imperialism look like in the 21st century?
• Direct intervention vs. indirect influence: where is the line?
• Who is “the United States,” really—government, corporations, agencies, citizens?
• Is the U.S. a global bully, a reluctant police force, or something in between?
• How much agency do Latin American countries and elites actually have?
• Trade, sanctions, and development: opportunity or dependency?
• Soft power, culture, and the American Dream: influence or domination?
• Drugs, migration, and security: shared problems or exported crises?
• If the U.S. steps back, who fills the vacuum—China, Russia, others—and at what cost?
• What would a healthier, more balanced relationship actually look like?

And much more.
By the end of the conversation, we won’t be trying to “settle” whether the United States is good or bad. Instead, we’ll ask a deeper question:
Is the U.S. the villain—or the clearest mirror of how global power really operates?
When? Tuesday, February 3
What time? 8 PM New York/ 7 PM Chicago/ 5 PM LA
Who participates? Global minds from all over the world
How many people per group? A maximum of 9 people per debating group to maximize experience
How much? We only charge a small contribution of 5 USD which covers our costs and allows us to sponsor people who wouldn’t be able to connect otherwise
First time? Drop us a line and you can participate for FREE 😊
And if I don’t like it? No risk involved. We’ll give you a complete refund
Do I have to prepare? It’s not mandatory, but if you like there’s Food for Thought videos
How do I connect? You’ll receive a link in your email max. 24 hours after payment
Everyone is welcome, together with their plus ones, ideas, and perspectives.
Click on the link and register now!
https://ideas-exchange.info/en/online-debate/empire-strikes/